Wind-wheel



M. B. WILLIAMS.

WIND WHEEL. No. 326,614.' Patented Sept. 22, 1885.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEroE.

-MALOOLM B. \VILLIAMS, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN.

WlND-WH EEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 326,614, dated September 22, 1885. Application filed JannaryQT, 1885. (No model.)

' a citizen of the United States, residing at Kalamazoo,.county of Kalamazoo, State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Wind-Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

' This invention has for its object certain improvements in that class of wind-wheels in which the rim of the wheel is composed of sections strung on a binding-rod and alternating with the sails of the wheel to effect the following points of utility:

First, preventing the sails from slipping out of place and out of proper angle, and also preventing the sections from tilting or slipping out of place during the operation of binding the sails and sections and in after use; second, adapting the sections of the rim to conform to or accommodate the curve of the circular binding-rod; third, adding the effect of solidity to the sectional rim while in use.

In the drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 shows a broken portion of a wind-wheel in perspective; Fig 2, details of Fig. 1 in enlarged perspective. Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are broken rim sections, showing equivalent changes hereinafter described, the sails in said figures being in cross-section.

Referring to the drawings, and the letters marked thereon, B B are the sails of a part of a wind-wheel. These sails radiate from and around the axis of the wheel, and are set at an edgewise oblique angle to the line of the binding-rod a, all of which will be of course understood by those versed in the art without further description here. The binding-rod (1 passes through the sails B B and sections D D of the wheel-rim, and these parts alternate with each other, as in prior wheels of this class; but the sections D D, in this instance, are cast from metal, and are provided with holes 0 c at each end for the passage therethrough of the bindingrod a.

By making the rod-holes at the ends of the sections D D, instead of through the sections, in which case, as is illustrated in prior windwheels, the holes are confined throughout their entire length, the binding-rod a readily conforms to a circular line around the wheel. However, the other peculiarities of the sections viding the section with what is termed a loopsocket, to receive the binding-rod thereth'rough-that is, the passage-way through the section D is confined at each end on one side and unconfined between said ends, and ,is unconfined at each end-on the other side and confined between said ends, Fig. 2. Byjthis means thecast section D is light and strong, the rod to is allowed to describe a circle, and the casting of the section is effected with less difficulty, as compared to coring a hole the entire length of the section.

In Fig. 2 lugs e eextend beyond the diagonally-opposite corners of the section D,wh1ch lugs engage the edges of the sails B B, Flg. 1, preventing the said sails and sections from slipping out of proper position when in the operation of binding or compressing them, and in the after use of the wheel as well. Equiv' alent lugs, s s, Fig. 3, so far as engaging the edges of the sails B B is concerned, may be adopted, they being shorter and on each corner of the sections D D. The lug e of one section D catches over the corner of the other section D, which abuts against'the other side of the sail B, Fig. 1, said engagement of the lug and corner of the sections serving to interlock the latter when the parts are compressed or bound, thus preventing the sections from slipping or tilting their corners out of proper line with each other, and serving to impart to the rim the effect of solidity when in use. An equivalent to this is shown in Fig. 4:, in which the corners of the sections D D are connected by the rods to a. An equivalent to the lugs e s, with reference to their office in engaging the sails B B, is shown at 1" r, Fig. 5, in which figure the lugs r1 engage the sides instead of the edges of the sails to prevent the parts from slipping. The edges of the sails B B may come in contact with the rods a a, if preferred, and thus be prevented from slipping, Fig. 6 5 or the rods a a may be used catching over the section is equivalent to thesection catching over the sail, both being for a like purpose. v

No plan is here shown for compressing or binding the sails B B and sections D D,hereinbefore mentioned in the description. This, however, is well understood by those skilled in the art-from prior disclosures of the same. Any desired plan may be adopted.

ally effected by threading the terminal ends of the binding-rod a where they form connection with the arms or spokesof the wind-wheel,

(arms or spokes not here shown,) and turning nuts on said threaded end'or ends, screwing them up until the sails and sections of the rim are closely compressed.

Having thus described my invent-ion,what I (claim as new is- 1. In a wind-wheel, alternating sails and rim-sections bound together, the latter being It is usu provided with the specified lugs or equivalents for engaging the sails to keep them in place, substantially as set forth.

2. In a wind-wheel, alternating sails and rim-sections bound together, the latter being provided with the interlocking corner lugs or equivalents adapted for both engaging the sails to keep them in place and connecting the sections, substantially as set forth.

3. In a wind-wheel, alternating sails and rim'sections bound together by a binding-rod, the sections being provided with a loop-socket or equivalent forming a passage-way for receiving the binding-rod therethrough, said loop-socket being confined at the ends and unconfined between the ends on one side and unconfined at the ends and confined between the ends on the other side, substantially as set forth. l

4. In a wind-wheel, the combination of a sail of the wheel and a section of the rim, said sail andsection being 'adapted' to catch one over the other, whereby both are 'held: in proper position, substantially as set forth.

In testimony of the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name in presence of two witnesses. MALCOLM B. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

' ELMER E. FORD.

HOMER MAUVE. 

